South Plainfield Accidents Up 50% Near Piscataway Red Light Cameras

Content Options

Accidents in South Plainfield near Piscataway's red light cameras are up, according to an analysis by The Alternative Press of South Plainfield.
Credits: Photo by Bob Jones

The intersection of Stelton Road and Hadley Road is one of two places where motorists face the risk of being snagged by red light cameras.
Credits: Photo by Bob Jones

An analysis by the Alternative Press of South Plainfield shows a 50% increase in rear-end collisions within 100 feet of red light cameras on Stelton Road.
Credits: Photo by Bob Jones

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – Accidents in South Plainfield near red-light cameras installed in Piscataway on the border of the two towns are up 50 percent, according to a study by The Alternative Press of South Plainfield.

The cameras are at the intersection of Stelton Road and Hadley Road and at the intersection of Stelton Road and New Brunswick Avenue. Fines collected from tickets issued motorists nabbed by the cameras go to Piscataway and Middlesex County.

The study compares accident rates for the first six months of 2012 (when there were no cameras) to the first six months of 2013 (when the cameras became operational). It revealed a 50% increase in overall accidents within 100 feet of the two intersections and a near doubling 500 feet out. Rear-end collisions also saw a 50 percent jump.

“We were against the red light cameras from the start,” said South Plainfield Mayor Matt Anesh. “The cameras are supposed to cut the number of accidents, but that’s not what we’re seeing. They should come down.”

Anesh wants the state DOT to require Piscataway and Middlesex County to remove the cameras: “Even though they are in Piscataway, they are affecting South Plainfield. I’ll be asking the council to pass a resolution asking the state to have them removed. They’re creating a danger.”

Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan (D-South Plainfield) agrees. After learning about the increase in accidents found in the study by The Alternative Press, Diegnan said he would do whatever he could to help Anesh and the council.

“In light of (The Alternative Press’s) research, I recommend that the South Plainfield governing body contact the DOT about the safety issue relative to the cameras,” said Diegnan. “I will be happy to assist them in whatever way I can.”

Red light cameras have come under increased scrutiny, with some state lawmakers pushing to ban them altogether.

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-Red Bank) is one of the leading opponents. O’Scanlon recently announced that an expert he hired found that yellow lights at many of the intersections with the cameras stay on for a shorter time than the law mandates. Because of this, he believes that about a third of the tickets issued to motorists are invalid.

The legislature passed the law allowing the cameras in 2008 as a five-year pilot program. Participating towns were allowed to put cameras where engineering, enforcement, and educational efforts were not effective in cutting the number of traffic tickets and crashes.

According to Diegnan, the legislation includes a “sunset provision” and must be reauthorized in December 2014, which is the end of the five-year period. “Based on the results to date I do not support extending the program beyond its termination date,” he said.

As part of the pilot, the state DOT also issues periodic reports on the program. The most recent report was prepared in November 2012 and finds that right-angle crashes are down fifteen percent at intersections where the lights have been in place for one year.

But the same study found that rear-end collisions at intersections with the cameras are up 20 percent, and overall crashes are up 0.9 percent.

Data from intersections where the cameras have been operational for two years shows different results. Total crashes are down 42 percent, with right-angle crashes down 86 percent and rear-end collisions down 57 percent in the two locations where the cameras are installed.

The DOT report does not reach a conclusion about whether the cameras are effective, especially given the limited number of towns that had the cameras in place for more than a year and are included in the report (nine).

Mayor Anesh, however, did reach a conclusion: “These red light cameras are nothing more than a money grab,” he said. “It is quite clear the goal of these programs is government revenue enhancement, not public safety.”

Of the 25 towns that are participating in the pilot, five are from Middlesex County (Piscataway, Edison, Woodbridge, East Brunswick, and New Brunswick). In all, there are cameras at 76 intersections throughout the state. To see a map of the locations click here.

Are you in need of a Christmas card photo with your fur baby this year? Well, the Southside Dog Park has just the ticket for you! Join us for photos with Santa, and mingle with other dogs. Bring your camera this Saturday, December 16th from 10 am to 11 am at the Southside Dog Park located on New Market Avenue.

PISCATAWAY, NJ - ​Solutions to the state's opiod crisis has landed in the lap of Rutgers University. ​The ​university's ​New Jersey Healthcare Development Center ​is being armed with $1.3 million to launch a statewide Certified A​l​cohol and Drug Counselor apprenticeship program​, in the latest effort to battle opiod addiction.​

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – Handmade inspirational and holiday cards created by students at John F. Kennedy and John E. Riley Elementary students will soon be on their way to hospitalized children throughout the United States.

Earlier this month, a character education initiative focusing on ‘caring’ and ‘kindness’ was launched at the two schools. “We really ...

A bill that would remove the law enforcement powers of the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NJSPCA) will be up for a vote on Dec. 14 before the state Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Bill S3558, sponsored by Senator Ray Lesniak, Democrat from Union County, would call for the creation of a county prosecutor animal cruelty task force in each county, and for ...

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – Say goodbye to 2017 and welcome in the new year with family and friends at South Plainfield's Southside Clam Bar & Restaurant.

“Overall, 2017 has been a great year for us and it is all thanks to our customers,” said Southside owner Alexis Broehl, a South Plainfield native who opened the New Market Avenue establishment earlier this year.

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ - Ms. Elizabeth Austin has renewed the Austin Family’s Adopt-A-Spot agreement with the South Plainfield Clean Business Association for the coming two years. She and her son will continue to do monthly litter cleanups along Plainfield Avenue between Maple Avenue and the 7-11 at the corner of Sampton Avenue.

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ - Ms. Elizabeth Austin has renewed the Austin Family’s Adopt-A-Spot agreement with the South Plainfield Clean Business Association for the coming two years. She and her son will continue to do monthly litter cleanups along Plainfield Avenue between Maple Avenue and the 7-11 at the corner of Sampton Avenue.

The South Plainfield Boys’ Bowling Team continues from their success of last season. Coming off a Blue Division Title, and having many bowlers returning, The South Plainfield Boys’ Bowling Team has high standards for the season. The team started off the year by defeating South River 4-0 on Friday, December 1, 2017. The Tigers then traveled up to Bergen Catholic High ...

The Federal Reserve has increased interest rates twice this year and could do so again in December. But the economy is hardly booming along and inflation remains tame. Are the central bankers crazy? No! They simply are trying to add some monetary policy arrows to their largely empty quiver.

The near collapse of the world financial system in 2008, forced the Fed to take ...

Letters to the Editor

I want to take the time to sincerely thank the residents of South Plainfield for the time they took to listen to my initiatives and gave me a vote of confidence in the 2017 election for Borough Council. As you know, I started this campaign putting forth my integrity, honesty and willingness to bring my experience and knowledge of government as an addition to the administration ...

Community Happenings

Are you in need of a Christmas card photo with your fur baby this year? Well, the Southside Dog Park has just the ticket for you! Join us for photos with Santa, and mingle with other dogs. Bring your camera this Saturday, December 16th from 10 am to 11 am at the Southside Dog Park located on New Market Avenue.

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – Handmade inspirational and holiday cards created by students at John F. Kennedy and John E. Riley Elementary students will soon be on their way to hospitalized children throughout the United States.

Earlier this month, a character education initiative focusing on ‘caring’ and ‘kindness’ was launched at the two schools. “We really ...

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ - Holy Savior Academy in South Plainfield presented their fall production of Barbara Robinson’s classic story, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, on December 1st. The cast and crew featured 65 performers from the school’s Drama Club from third through eighth grades.

“I think the kids did a fantastic job,” said Eva Tripodi, Enrichment ...

Bishop James Checchio visited Holy Savior Academy on Tuesday November 28th. Bishop Checchio was the main celebrant of the school mass held at The Church of the Sacred Heart. This Mass also coincided with the 8th Grade Ring Ceremony.

Bishop Checchio spoke to the students, families and friends in attendance about “Thanking God first.” He also spoke directly to the ...

As we all begin to reflect on another year past, your South Plainfield Lions Club continues to serve the community. This year, we are helping over 100 families through FISH enjoy meals for the holidays.

This year alone, we have provided over 1000 pounds of vegetables to local soup kitchens. This ensures that those in need can continue to receive meals throughout the ...

South Plainfield Police responded to a residential burglary which occurred on Wednesday, December 6th, 2017, shortly before 1:00 PM to a home on Woodland Ave. Access was gained to the home and electronic items and jewelry were stolen.
A witness saw two black men 20's-30's dressed in all black, both wearing black hoods one carrying a large black duffel bag with red trim walking ...

Come join us at the library for Monday Night Movies! On December 18 at 6:30 PM, we will be showing a new romantic comedy starring Reese Witherspoon, Michael Sheen, Candice Bergen, and Nat Wolff. Witherspoon plays a single mother who allows three young men to move into her house; let the antics ensue. If you cannot make it to our Monday night showing, it will also be shown ...

This week's feature will focus on TAPintoWestfield franchisee, Jackie Lieberman. Find out what makes TAPintoWestfield.net different than the competition, what she did before coming onto TAPinto.net and how an inexperienced sales person became one of TAPinto's most successful franchisee's.

No seriously, this article in the Times claims that a scientific study conducted at Vanderbilt University recently discovered that dogs have twice as many neurons as cats in the analytic part of their brains.

CALABASH, NC – So much for my good Thanksgiving. I was horrible last week. I went 1-4. My only win was Miami and no one watched that game anyway. A guy Andy emailed me to say my picks were late. That has been the least of my problems. I’m not sure what the technical difficulties may be, but the bigger issue is my picks have stunk.

The Suburban Woman's Club of South Plainfield began celebrating the holiday season on December 3rd with its annual Theater Party at the Historical Edison Valley Playhouse. At a sold-out performance, the audience was treated to “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown,” a delightful and heartwarming musical.

Press Releases

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Hundreds of Middlesex County residents learned from experts but also shared their concerns on the opioid epidemic ravaging the state at Tuesday’s Knock Out Opioid Abuse Town Hall hosted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) at the Jo Ann Magistro Performing Arts Center at Hammarskjold Middle School.